The fuss over Mark Ferrandino

A year ago when Mark Ferrandino[1] became the House minority leader, some media outlets wrongly declared the Denver Democrat the first openly gay lawmaker to serve in leadership in the Colorado legislature.

She publicly revealed she was gay in 2002 when she learned Republicans were going to out her on the campaign trail although everyone at the Capitol, including lobbyists and staff, already knew. She brought her partner with her to legislative events since first being elected in 1996.

Ferrandino today will truly make history when he becomes the powerful speaker of the Colorado House. The nomination by his peers is all the more dramatic because the man turning over the gavel, Republican Frank McNulty, on the second to last day of the 2012 session killed Ferrandino’s civil-unions bill in one of the most dramatic moments in legislative[4] history in decades.

I was curious to see whether a big deal was made when Veiga became the House minority leader after the 2002 election so I searched both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News archives. I didn’t find the word “gay,” but I did find the word “women” and “glass ceiling” in several articles.

Here’s one from Nov. 8, 2002:

By Michele AmesROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS

And the women shall lead them.

For the first time in Colorado history, women will occupy four of the six top leadership jobs in the state legislature.

“What that means is that women are being recognized in what used to be a male bastion,” said Sen. Norma Anderson[5], R-Lakewood. “Women are capable of doing the job equally, and that glass ceiling on leadership and power is disappearing.”

Anderson, who was the first female majority leader in the state House, is the first female majority leader in the state Senate after her colleagues gave her the post Thursday.

She’ll be joined by Rep. Lola Spradley[6], R-Beulah, who will officially become the first female House speaker when the legislature convenes in January.

Democrats are also posting women in their two highest leadership jobs.

Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald[7], D-Golden, was elected Senate minority leader by her fellow Democrats. Rep. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, is expected to be named House minority leader by her caucus this morning. She is running unopposed for the post.

“I think it’s exceptionally exciting,” Veiga said. “The fact that we have women in high-ranking leadership positions is just really telling in how progressive Colorado really is in certain respects.”

Veiga went on to become a state senator, where she was known for the business bills she sponsored and monitored as the chair of the Business, Labor & Technology Committee. She resigned in 2009 to move to Australia with her partner. In a phone interview at her law firm in Brisbane, Veiga said she’s thrilled for Ferrandino.

“He’s extremely qualified and he’s a great guy,” she said.

[8]

Mark Ferrandino

As for Ferrandino, after getting elected to leadership posts he has focused not on his sexual orientation but on his ability to overcome severe learning disabilities.

“I told myself I wasn’t going to cry, but as a kid growing up in New York who had a learning disability, who was in special education, who struggled a lot, a kid who was picked on, called names, to be where I am and have your support, that is awesome; it is humbling,” he said, in November when his caucus nominated him for speaker[9].

The entire House today will officially vote on his nomination as speaker.